International marriage is not rare these days. Some foreign nationals stay in Japan to work. Besides them, a growing number of foreign nationals marry Japanese nationals or permanent residents in Japan and start to stay in Japan. The following explanation is about the status of residence that based on law table 2. It does not apply to Criteria provided for the Ministry of Justice Ordinance. If you get this status of residence, your activities in Japan are not limited. It means that you can engage in any kind of jobs. If you have this status of residence, it will be easier to become a permanent resident. Therefore this status of residence presents advantages for foreign nationals. However, this status of residence might cause some troubles for foreign nationals who are not allowed to get another status of residence because some of them regard marriage merely as a measure to get the status of residence. In such cases, the authenticity or stability of their marriage is in doubt. It will lead to many problems. ◆Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contact Marriage The condition of marriage is different depending on a country. It is a document to certify that the foreigner meets the necessary to conditions for marriage which his/her own country stipulates. When Marriage Notification and this document with its translation are submitted to your municipal office, they are usually accepted. The name of this document is different depending on a country, for instance, “ Certificate of Bachelor”, or “Certificate of no impairment in marriage”. ◆ The preceded formula in a place where a marriage ceremony is held This principle is that you go thorough the marriage procedure at a public office or church in another country and obey the way of the country. You send registration of your marriage to Japanese embassy and consulate abroad or municipal office by mail after a valid marriage. Such private international law <HO-U-RE-I> is accepted in Japanese legislation. A marriage in a foreign country is valid when it is effective on either side according to the legislation of the country. However if foreign nationals want to live in Japan and get the status of residence, they should report their marriage to a public office and submit their family registers to the immigration office. It may happen that a valid marriage is not in accord with the marriage the immigration office approves as “the authentic or stable marriage”. If the context of application is suspected of falsehood, permission of landing and status of residence will not be approved. ・The applicable scope of each status of residence: (You can apply to change the temporary visitor’s visa into the status of residence related to marriage. After the application, you can stay in Japan longer than the period of permitted stay; except the countries of visa exemption.) ・Spouse or child of Japanese national: the spouse of Japanese nationals, the children adopted by Japanese nationals in accordance with the law or those born as the children of Japanese nationals. ・Spouse or child of permanent resident: the spouse of those who stay with the status of residence of “Permanent Resident” or those who are Special Permanent Residents, those born as children of permanent residents in Japan. ・Long term resident: the spouse of long term resident, the children of permanent residents or long term residents who are unmarried minors. ( His/ her birthplace is overseas) ・Dependent: the spouse or child who stay with status of residence of “College Student” or “Cultural Activities” and with in law annexed table 1. (The status of residence in law annexed table1-5 is not allowed to work.)

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